Love is in the air!

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Single Awareness Day! 😸

Us cats show mamma love every day.

We purr, we head bunt, we play, we cuddle, we knead on her, and we purr some more.

What will you be doing today to show your love? 😻

Our mamma decorated the house with hearts, candles, and silly stuffed toys. We like to knock them down and attack them all.

We display our love in all sorts of ways. While romantic love is said to be a purely human emotion, we have rituals and behaviors that we know expresses love, too. For instance, my little brother Pasqua definitely loves me. We aren't really related, so it is okay. 😹  He chases me and forces me to play with him. He grooms me, and I groom him. 

I love him, but don't show him very often. Shhh...

My older brother, Stray Cat, loved a dog. That is right, a dog. It was incredible. The two would nestle together to nap, they would play together, and were inseparable.

Don't believe me? Here's a picture to prove it: 

Zoe and Stray Cat, 2009.

In my humble opinion, humans have to do a better job of celebrating all types of love.

This Valentine's Day, whether single or in a relationship, we encourage you to be kind, show compassion, have empathy, and celebrate every type of love. It may be difficult for you at first, as you will have to set aside judgment, bias, and prejudices. Try to find anything that you can relate to about a person, so that you will be able to connect at that level. For people you do not know, remember you are a stranger too, so think about how you want to be treated, and act responsibly with that in mind.

Every animal and human deserves love, respect, compassion, and empathy. 

Celebrate every love! 💘

Have a happy day, Readers.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

When we were born, nobody gave us a lesson on how to breathe - we just did. The same thing happens with love. Nobody tells you how to love - we just do. - Connor Chalfant.

Our Stories Matter

Happy Sunday, Readers,

Last week, I shared Pixie's story in honour of her passing. 😿 Which got me thinking about our individual stories - and how they matter.

Like Pixie, I had a rough start, too - the runt of a litter born in the parking lot of a shopping mall and abandoned by my cat-mother.

Me as a kitten.

When you share your story, what do you start with? Do you start with your rough beginning, or do you begin your story with a memory of courageous perseverance in the face of adversity? We all have a story to share and maybe we all can inspire others with our resilience.

You may remember how Pasqua came in to our life. We don't know much about his back story, or why he was dropped off at the cat sanctuary that October. We do know that they named him Chip because he was found during their Halloween Chip or Treat event.

Pasqua as a kitten.

Maybe if I allowed Pasqua to write today's blog he would start out at Thanksgiving 2018, and his first night in his new home here with us. How he knew it was supposed to be temporary and it was just a foster situation, so he squeezed his way into our hearts so that he would never leave.

We all have our own experience and impression of the world. If we stick with starting our story at the bad times, our focus of the bad times grows. The bad times are important, but even more important is how we rise above them, that's what makes us who we are at the core.

We don't have to start our story with the bad times. Instead, we could start at the good times, start with the blessings. Maybe, if we focus on the good, we will see the good grow.

Give people a space to be heard, listen to their story.

Share your story.

It matters.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

🧡Sharing your story is heart work. It's not easy work, but it might be the most important thing you’ll ever do. - Jennifer Williamson.🧡

In memory of Pixie

Remember ma sponsored a kitty at Tabby's Place after Stray Cat passed away?

We are sad to report that she has passed away. Tabby's wrote a beautiful blog in her honor if you want to read it:
https://www.tabbysplace.org/uncategorized/free-as-pixie/

Her start in life was a rough one. She was shot with a pellet gun which caused her hind legs paralysis. She persevered in the face of adversity. She was joyful, playful, and beautiful. She lived for a few years at the sanctuary, and was adopted last spring. She only had five years on this planet, and she touched so many people and cats - we all have learned from her courage, and strength.

Pixie inspires me to be nicer to everyone. Humans do not think I am the friendliest cat. Maybe it has to do with my start in life. My mamma's friend found me as a tiny kitten in the parking lot of a mall. Thank God she found me, because it was scary there.

I think our start in life has a huge impact on who we become and how we see the world. It is believed that the personality of a cat is based on the specific breed and the manner in which they are raised.

Now, mamma raised me spoiled and loved, yet most humans who meet me call me a scaredy-cat because I am timid and shy. Other humans just call me mean. I assure you, I am not mean - I am friendly, affectionate, and vocal to mamma only. Perhaps, my reserved behaviour is because I was introduced to the world with loud noises, lots of feet, and many automobiles. Something to think about.

Each time we lose a loved one, we honour their memory by emulating their best attributes. We honour Pixie today, and send up love, purrs, and cuddles to all of you.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

You don't have to have a great start in life to have a great attitude towards the future!